Suggestions for how to most safely carry money in Europe
 

I'm looking for suggestions for a safe way to carry money/passport/credit cards. As I reviewed earlier threads, most suggested a money belt. But as a female, I often wear dresses.

I've traveled with a small, flat purse that went around my neck and could be worn under clothing. Sorry, I'm not sure where I purchased it, but it was just the right size for a credit card and my passport. Maybe try some travel gear websites.

I leave my passport in the hotel and only carry it when I move to another location. I carry enough money for a day or two in a small change purse and put credit/debit cards in a zippered compartment in my purse - separate from cash. I wear a cross body purse and haven't had a problem. I only wore a money belt once when I was backpacking years ago and travelers' check were the norm so I had to carry my entire savings with me.

I once met a woman who sewed a purse into a skirt pocket and kept her money there.

You could always make one of those purses that travelrene suggests if you can't find one. I find the problem with those things is that they don't work well if you are busty. The one's I've seen weren't long enough to go to the midriff. And if they are leather or, most likely, plastic and it's hot they will stick to your skin and irritate.

BTW - I have more problems getting robbed by taxi drivers than pickpockets! :)

Use a money belt or the hotel safe -- your choice. But I don't understand the "<i>But as a female, I often wear dresses. </i>" bit.

What has that got to do w/ anything?

Females use money belts whether they wear dresses or not. A money belt is not a substitute for a handbag or wallet. It is essentially a 'body safe'. You do not access it during the day or in public. It is for the surplus cash, back up ATM and/or credit card, passport. Not for your walking around money -- use a handbag/wallet just like you would at home.

When I'm not wearing my moneybelt, I use similar method as adrienne.

I put my 1-2 day's need of cash in my wallet. If there's extra cash I have, I split it up into various inside zippered pockets within my bag. CC and ATM cards go inside other pockets in my bag.

I do use my moneybelt at times - usually when I'm traveling solo and am moving from one city to another. These are times when my hands are tied up with luggage and my mind is occupied by looking for the right bus/train/flight etc.

I carry the same purse I do in the USA. End of story.

I was in France this summer and found a small purse (like a kids purse) with a Long strap worn crosswise worked perfect. As others suggested leave your Passport in the hotel just carry a copy with you. The small purse will also accomodate small purchases. Check out Target for the small purse. Good Luck and have fun, France is Amazing.

How do you carry money safely at home?

Thanks for all your replies - they have been very helpful. At home, I do not have an issue of safety with my money as I live in a small city where we do not even have keys to our house. As I have read trip reports from Paris on this site they have all mentioned the need to safely carry money as pickpockets are an issue.

I find it's a huge difference between carrying money safely at home vs abroad on vacation, esp if it's a place new to me.

In my home city, I know where I'm going. I don't have to stop and consult my map, or take out my camera to snap photos, or in general being awed by sights (be it architecture or shop windows). As a result, I'm much more aware of my belongings and my surroundings when I'm in my home town. Besides, living in the US (with few exceptions), you are never packed like sardines in the subway, nor rubbed elbows with other pedestrians. In fact, here at home, if someone gets really close to me, I'm very aware of that because there's so much space here it's no need to get close to one another.

However, in big cities in Europe, it can get very crowded (think Leicester Sq tube station). I may be distracted looking for the right exit, or the right train/platform; as a result, I am less aware that someone is dipping his/her hand into my purse.

We always leave our passport at the hotel. I just use a regular purse that has at least one side that zips. I am a little more aware of my purse when in a city and hardly ever think about it when in the country. We don't carry excess cash as there is always an ATM close.


It is a really good idea to have photocopys of all credit card, passports etc. Leave it home so someone can fax it to you if you have a problem.

Travellingmom3,

i am certain your hometown is wonderful and that there isn't any crime but you honestly need to understand that Paris, among many other places, is not necessarily crawling with thieves, pickpockets, scammers, etc.

St. Cirq has given some of the best advice IMO and I suggest you might at least CONSIDER that a lot of what you have "heard" is frankly coming from a bunch of rather overwrought posters, etc.

I know from experience what it is like to be robbed in a foreign city and if you want to experience that just hop onto the barcelona Metro and wait long enough..they are likely to show up.

OR hang around INSIDE (forget the so-called "seedy" outside) the Termini station in Rome..you can watch the pickpockets working below if you station yourself on the upstairs "balcony" area.

Have you ever considered wearing pants instead of that dress?

I usually travel in the fall and have my black microfiber raincoat. I made a pocket with a zipper and sewed it to the inside of the raincoat so I can carry something in there. I use a money belt but only keep out cash for the day. If I keep out any large amount, I separate it and carry it in different places on my body. With using ATMs it isn't like when we would carry large sums of money from home.

When I am at home, I don't have that much cash on me and I usually am aware of my surroundings and it is not a tourist site. There are more thieves at a tourist site and usually I am busy looking at whatever I came to see.

So far we have never had a problem - maybe we always look too poor to bother with.

My tradition - guy's view - has been to use a flat zipper pouch with a loop that I pass my belt through. Then it flips inside my waistband right against the pocket - but inside. The spending money and one card I might need are in my pocket in a VERY small wallet that sits deep in the pocket and isn't easy to access or even be seen by pickpocket (pretty much the way I operate at home in NYC), but that pouch is for extra cash in case of purchases, etc, and for my passport on a day I need to travel with it. If I need to access it I do it in private, in the restroom or elsewhere.

The best way to carry money is QUIETLY, wherever you are.

My other advice: always be aware of what you are carrying, whether purse, briefcase or packages. Distractions are just as likely to make you leave something behind, or carelessly turn your back. I have finally given up pointing out to women that their purse, hung on the back of a chair in a restaurant, is ASKING to be taken or have the wallet lifted from it. Likewise, a purse on the floor next to your chair: easily noticed by a pro who KNOWS how to access it from the next table.

There's no need to fear pickpockets once you're aware that they will work tourist areas. Carry as little with you as you can, so it can be as close to you as possible - yes, even attached to a string around your neck that ends inside your dress somewhere!

<<I find it's a huge difference between carrying money safely at home vs abroad on vacation, esp if it's a place new to me.>>

And I find no difference at all. It's all about the level of awareness, wherever you are.

I put my money in my wallet. I put my wallet in my back pocket. Sometimes it goes in my jacket or bag.

My wife puts her wallet in her purse. Sometimes, if she is going purse-less, she puts it in her back pocket.

Not sure there is any reason to overthink this. Europe is not crawling with pickpockets. Why worry about it?

<i> Europe is not crawling with pickpockets. Why worry about it?</i>

Except that many touristy spots in Europe ARE crawling with pickpockets. A quick search on the topic title for "Pickpockets" and for "Stolen" yielded these:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ocket-scam.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...erns-italy.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...notre-dame.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...interlaken.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...cket-video.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...t-reminder.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-in-paris.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ns-learned.cfm

People who post on Fodors represent a very small % of travelers in Europe. So, if it happens to our little community, I'm sure it also happens in the general tourist population.

<i>So far we have never had a problem - maybe we always look too poor to bother with.</i>
Same here!

<i>People who post on Fodors represent a very small % of travelers in Europe. So, if it happens to our little community, I'm sure it also happens in the general tourist population.</i>

And people also tend to post when bad things happen. Perhaps everyone that went to Europe and wasn't pick-pocketed should start threads about the lessons learned? If everyone did that, then I'm sure you would see something closer to the real risk emerge.

People overestimate the incidence of crime. They rely on anecdotal evidence (which isn't really evidence, IMO) and only remember the bad stuff. It is the same phenomenon you see in the US, where folks overestimate crime rates because the news only shows crimes. It is recipe for grossly overestimating your risk.

"Not sure there is any reason to overthink this. Europe is not crawling with pickpockets. Why worry about it?"

agree completely.
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StCirq on Sep 21, 09 at 11:59 PM

I carry the same purse I do in the USA. End of story."
me too , only the one with minimum of "hardware"!

I have a very light, black Lacoste purse I wear across the chest. Looks nice and leaves my hands free.

What does a "money belt" look like anyway?
Is worn under a dress or shirt ? Does it make one's clothes look bulky?

sorry,... Is it worn

A million years ago when I started travelling I used a money belt all the time, and carried a nifty backpack or daypack that just screamed "tourist." Now, I carry a regular purse that is big enough to hold a pocket umbrella, map, camera and whatever guidebook I am carrying that day, but doesn't advertise "strange person in a strange land." I finally realized that I live in a major metropolitan city that is a huge tourist area, so if the way I'm dressing at home isn't attracting pickpockets, I should try to replicate that when visiting another tourist area. The only concession I make to extra caution, particularly when visiting an area I'm not really familiar with or an area that I KNOW is crawling with pickpockets, is how I actually carry cash and credit cards. Sometimes I will put my small wallet (you know those equadorean woven coin purses that are just big enough for credit cards and folded bills? love them!!!!) inside of an inside pocket in my purse, and sometimes I will keep it in my front pocket - just depends on the situation. Either way I only carry one credit card and enough cash for the day and a COPY of my passport, so if something were to happen it would not be the end of the world.

<< Perhaps everyone that went to Europe and wasn't pick-pocketed should start threads about the lessons learned >>

I've been to Europe more than a dozen times (not much by some standards here) and have never been pick pocketed. I've taken public transportation much of the time - subway, buses, trains, trams, overnight trains and I've used precautions outlined above.

The one thing I do when I get bank notes, I fold them in half so I can easily see the denominations and put the same denominations together. That way I don't have to flash a wad of cash about looking for the correct Euros, etc. I reach into my purse and pull out the correct note to pay for my purchase. No one can see exactly how much money I have - they may think I only have 10 Euro on me. I also push the coin purse to the bottom of my purse as thieves know that women often leave their wallets (purses) on the top after making a purchase. I also don't look like I have any money! :) No flashy jewelry or fancy clothes.

I carry my passport/plane ticket in one pocket, wallet with monye in the other. Since I don't arrive with a lot of money (withdrawals as required), I don't have a fat wallet. If I'm wearing a jacket, I will put it in a zippered pocket. No moneybelt in years.

As others have stated, I recognize that pickpockets may be an issue and adjust. That being said, I would never characterize Europe as being full of pickpockets. I suppose a French tourist in NYC would also think that pickpockets are an issue, but would you if you went there? Not so sure. I would trust locals to quantify the risk.

That being said, I live in a big city, so I have a sense for situations (I hope).

I will delude myself that when I was in Paris last time walking around with nothing in my hands, no backpack, no moneybelt,no fanny pack...everything I needed in pockets...that I was less conspicuous to the neer-do-wells.

I do the same as St. Cirq--I carry the same pocketbook that I carry at home.

I find that if I try carrying something different from what I'm used to doing, it becomes a distraction in itself. With a familiar bag, I instinctively know it's on my shoulder, under my arm, and I'm more likely to carry it with confidence and awareness.

Trying something new on a trip when you're surrounded by new things to figure out and absorb, makes me less comfortable and I'm more likely to be unwittingly careless.

Passport is left in the hotel room safe or the rented apartment, and I don't carry a lot of cash. ATM's are everywhere.

The only people I've known personally who have been pickpocketed have been friends who let their guard down at home here in the U.S.

Ever since I moved my wallet to my front pocket (30 years ago), I have never had a problem in Paris.

Women are another issue. Purses with straps that can be grabbed: NO!

I'm another woman who carries a normal purse. It makes no sense to me to be paranoid while in a different country. Use the same percautions you would at home.

If you have all the information for your credit cards kept separate (send yourself an email with the numbers and phone contacts for lost or stolen cards), it will not be a disaster if you lose them for any reason. Scan your passport and send it as an attachment to yourself. Don't carry a lot of cash - it's unnecessary. I haven't seen pickpockets in action in many recent trips but if they were present they were looking for the easiest targets. Blend in and don't have stuff hanging out all over the place. Tilley's makes garments with velcro closure pockets and other devices for travelling. I hate money belts - they are uncomfortable and difficult to access. Keep your important documents in a place that you can check easily and remember where it is. If you attach something to a belt, make sure the belt is thick and hard to cut - if you open the belt for any reason, remember that you could lose what is attached to it.

I use both a money belt around the waist and a neck pouch. I keep most of the money and one debit card in the money belt. I never take anything out of it in public. I keep the other card, my passport and a couple of large bills in the neck pouch. If I need to show ID when buying something with the card, I do take it out of the neck pouch. If I had a second ID, I'd put the passport in the money belt and the other ID in the neck pouch. I keep some smaller bills and coins in my purse, for buying things like lunch or cheap souvenirs.

Leaving the passport in the hotel only works if there is a safe place to put it. If I stay in a shared dorm at a hostel, I wouldn't leave anything valuable there.

I see some of you think one shouldn't do things different than at home. But while it may be irritating to get a purse stolen in your home town, it's usually easy to call the bank and police to cancel cards etc. Being in another country, it gets more complicated. First you have to call the bank, then find a police station, then prove who you are, then contact the consulate to get a temporary passport, then find a way to get enough cash to get home.

kerouac, my wallet has been in a front pocket for about 30 yrs, too - I heard a report while still a youth that sitting on a wallet (even a slim one) is bad for the back.

The only time I've ever been robbed was here in NYC, on a crowded Times Sq street, when a couple of guys conspired to knock me down while another had his hand in my pocket, snatching an heirloom money clip and a few bucks. Thankfully permanent injury, but the experience stays with one ... at 6'3" I thought I was immune to that particular kind of move. I learned better.

We usually travel during the off-season, colder months. One advantage is the need to wear coats - my husband's coat has inner pockets, which are great for stashing a credit card and euros for the day. Resistant at first to the idea of keeping his wallet in his front pocket, he is now sold on the idea after several instances where he detected his back pocket being checked out by a stray hand, (we were in crowded areas).

As far as a purse goes, carrying a leather shoulder bag large enough to carry necessities for a full day of sightseeing is just not comfortable. I carry a lightweight tote bag or cross-body bag with nothing valuable inside, (just the things we need - or might need - like a map, umbrella, water bottle, sunglasses, kleenex, stuff like that). It has to be large enough to hold the "real" umbrella we bought in Paris to replace the cute but useless "travel" umbrella that turned inside-out one a windy, rainy day one too many times!

As far as pickpocketing goes, I was almost mugged once in the Paris metro, about 10 years ago. A group of young boys, (they looked like they were maybe 11 or 12, shockingly enough), surrounded me as I approached the metro car. I was wearing a small, "foldover" cross-body bag with lots of snaps & zippers, (nothing valuable in it, thank goodness) - they had sweaters over their arms which they used to hide their attempt to open my bag. Fortunately, I realized pretty quickly what was happening and shoved past them to get up into the car. Nothing was taken, but in that quick moment they had managed to unfold & unzip my bag!

Being aware of your surroundings is the most important thing, no matter whether you use a money belt, or whatever.

When traveling, I always wear a purse that I can sling over my shoulder. It can easily be adjusted for me to hold in front of me when traveling on the subway, train, or just walking around. Many hotels don't have safes so I keep my passport with me, money, camera, etc. I have never had a problem. You just have to be cautious and obviously aware of your surroundings. Make sure you have a zipper top so no one can easily reach their hands in your purse. I always told my husband to keep his wallet in his front pocket especially when headed into the metro.

I use my regular purse same as I do at home. I carry cash, debit and credit cards in my regular wallet same as I do at home. I leave my passport in the hotel room or apartment.

The first time I went to Europe seven years ago I used a money belt and special travel wallet and bought a special cross body messenger bag just for the trip. Everything was separated and zippered up in little compartments. It was really, really awful- I found using an unfamiliar "system" disorienting. I could never remember where I put anything and that made me paranoid that I had lost something.

I feel a million times more comfortable and secure just using my normal purse.

I have traveled a good bit in Europe, Canada, and the U.S. (routinely taking public transportation), and always wear a money belt under my pants if I'm away for more than a day trip. It's just big enough for cash, a passport, and a few credit cards and other ID cards like a driver's license and health insurance card.

I've never been pick-pocketed, either. Does that mean my basic precautions and self-awareness work, or that there are no pickpockets around? I don't know the answer to that but forced to choose, I'd guess the former.

Is Europe crawling with pickpockets? They're out there, no question. But even if there were only one pickpocket in all of Europe, if he happens to pick your pocket, he's caused you a problem. I'm thinking it's wise to take reasonable precautions and exercise reasonable awareness without being needlessly paranoid no matter where you go.

I wear a fanny pack in front of me and I keep my fist cocked. I look like a dork and don't relax much but I have not been robbed yet.

No wait, I was robbed in San Francisco by a gang of teenagers. Give me Termini station anyday.

This may have been mentioned above, but I carry my money, credit cards and passport in a pouch that I wear around my neck and tuck directly into my bra or under a tee shirt (if worn under a sweater or jacket). My husband carries his stuff in a pouch that loops onto his belt and tucks into his pants. We split our money evenly, and I carry one set of credit cards and he carries another (if we each carried our own credit card, and one of the pouches was stolen or lost, we would not be able to use the other half of the card -- the same card is in both names). In our wallets, we keep another credit card (we each carry the same card) and enough cash to get us through the day. If we need more cash, we'll go into a rest room and take some out. This system seems to work well for us.

We purchased our pouches at The Container Store.

I agree with St Cirq. Use what you use at home. That way you feel more comfortable and will notice if anything is odd or askew. Plus you won't make yourself crazy worrying about things.

Have been to europe more than 70 times and have never had any problems with money or credit cards. For business trips (about half) I use my regular (large) purse that holds all I need for a business day. This is a shoulder purse and I carry across my body in busy public areas - just like at home.

On vacation I carry a Sportsac medium size barrel that weight nothing and and has numerous pockets to hold all the things you need (regular purse stuff, guide book, camera, small bottle of water, small umbrella and even a sweater). This also goes across the body if in very busy public areas.

Granted I'm a native New Yorker - and seem to do automatically things that don't occur to some other people - but if you always hang onto your belongings it's very difficult for anyone to get a whole purse away from you.

And we carry cast, credit cards and passports at all times.

And I would never use any sort of money belt or neck pouch or whatever - IMHO it just makes you look odd and bulgy.

<<I carry my money, credit cards and passport in a pouch that I wear around my neck and tuck directly into my bra or under a tee shirt (if worn under a sweater or jacket). My husband carries his stuff in a pouch that loops onto his belt and tucks into his pants.>>

I don't mean to be snarky, but don't you look absolutely dotty trying to pay for anything? I mean, in the sense of drawing so much attention to yourself that you'd identify yourself INSTANTLY as a really major target?

We don't use the money or credit cards in the pouches to pay for anything. As I said above, we keep a separate card and some cash in our wallets (in my case, the wallet is in my backpack, and my husband's is in one of the pockets of his pants). We would never pull out the pouches in public. And usually my pouch cannot be detected under my clothing, especially if I am wearing a sweater or jacket.